Playing with cubs, walking with lions or taking predator selfies fuels a cruel industry ⛓️🦁⛓️ — not conservation. ‼️ Cubs aren’t orphaned. ‼️ They’re bred for profit. Say no to captivity and help end their suffering. Be the change. #TheyFeelToo #CancelCaptivity #KillingThemSoftly

Minister Dr Dion George addressed @United for Wildlife Global Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a resolute message for global leaders: “We are closing the captive lion industry. The only commercial lion industry in the world.” 👉 Watch www.facebook.com/share/v/17St...

Minister Dr Dion George addressed @United for Wildlife Global Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a resolute message for global leaders: “We are closing the captive lion industry. The only commercial lion industry in the world.” 👉 Watch www.facebook.com/share/v/17St...

📢 Want to visit a big cat facility but not sure which are ethical? Youth For Lions has created a list of 🚩RED FLAGS🚩 to help you spot parks that exploit predators through breeding, petting & trade. Support true sanctuaries only. Learn more 👉 tinyurl.com/yw7sty8b

📢 YOU’RE KILLING THEM SOFTLY 📢 Paying to pet, walk or watch captive lions fuels cruelty for profit ❌🦁 Their lives are short, their suffering real. You’re not helping them — you’re killing them softly. 🟢 Say no to captivity. 🟢 Say no to exploitation. #TheyFeelToo #CancelCaptivity

Blood Lions & @ecotrainingafrica spoke with @travelweeklyus about overcrowding at the Serengeti Mara River crossing. The debate highlights urgent issues in ethical wildlife tourism—guest expectations, guide challenges & trade responsibility. Listen to full podcast 🎧👉: tinyurl.com/58tcypwy '

South Africa is top global wildlife supplier, exporting 16+ million live wild animals (2013–2023), incl. 5,500 predators. Many go to China and Vietnam with poor welfare records, fueling trade in bones, skins & meat. SA has a moral obligation to protect these animals. #TheyFeelToo #CancelCaptivity

❓Does captive lion breeding aid conservation❓ Research by Blood Lions & @WorldAnimalProtection finds: ❌ Demand not met ❓ Preferences mixed ❓ Costs unclear ❓ Restocking uncertain ‼️ Illegal trade rife ➡️ Captive lion breeding offers NO conservation benefit for wild lions. #CancelCaptivity

In response to an intended zero lion bone export quota, industry claims that trade protects wild lions remain unproven. Research shows no evidence that captive breeding safeguards wild populations. With lions already in decline, caution—not commerce—is needed. More: tinyurl.com/297h4436

In SA’s captive predator industry lions & other predators suffer deeply. Poor diets, disease, stress & confinement lead to obesity, injury, pacing, self-mutilation & mental distress. Their welfare is compromised for profit. #TheyFeelToo #CancelCaptivity More: bloodlions.org/theyfeeltoo6/

❓Does captive lion breeding help conservation❓Research by Blood Lions & @WorldAnimalProtection shows 🦁 Little evidence of wild lions used to restock farms 🦁 Criminal links & weak enforcement enable laundering of wild parts ➡️ No proof lion farming benefits wild lions. #CancelCaptivity #BornToLiveWild

📸 #KeepItWild Challenge! Reminder 📸 Submit your wild big cat photo + background story by 24 Oct 2025. Open to all photographers 👉 tinyurl.com/59ka8b43. Entries will join an open letter to SA’s Minister urging a ban on captive lion breeding. Share & take action! #CancelCaptivity

In SAs commercial predator industry not only lions, but leopards, cheetahs, servals, tigers & more are bred. Torn from mothers, used for petting & photo props, sold to zoos, and traded for parts. Their suffering is the same. #TheyFeelToo Time to #CancelCaptivity More: tinyurl.com/7426xs8a

❓Does captive lion breeding help conservation❓Blood Lions & @WorldAnimalProtection reviewed existing research: 🦁 Consumers still prefer wild parts 🦁 Demand may even grow 🦁 No proof farmed parts are cheaper ➡️ Little to no evidence it eases pressure on wild lions. More: tinyurl.com/3nu43mh4

South Africa’s captive lion population is nearly 3x our wild population. In addition to 8,000 captive lions, thousands of other predators are exploited commercially. Contrary to industry claims, commercial captive breeding of lions has no conservation value. More: tinyurl.com/mrrjwdj3

Rarities, like white lions, lions with dark manes, or white tigers are widely bred in SAs captive predator industry for their trophy hunting value. They’re bred from small founder populations causing inbreeding & welfare issues. #TheyFeelToo Time to #CancelCaptivity More tinyurl.com/7426xs8a

Can commercial captive lion breeding in South Africa ease pressures on wild lions? Blood Lions & @World Animal Protection reviewed 160+ studies on consumer preferences, supply & demand, costs, restocking and illegal activities. Stay tuned as we share our findings. More: tinyurl.com/378743cz

Shocking safari scenes—from charging elephants in Botswana to chaos in Tanzania’s Serengeti —raise concerns about unsafe & unethical wildlife tourism. In @ATTA webinar we explored the causes & links to captive tourism, urging integrity & respect in the industry. Watch: tinyurl.com/442wfs39

Stripes, Manes & Myths - South Africa’s predator industry breeds ligers - cross-breed between male lion & female tiger. Ligers have no conservation value. Many suffer birth defects, cancer, organ failure & short lifespans. Bred for profit & entertainment. More: bloodlions.org/liger_facts/

South Africa’s captive predator industry is tied to tiger trade in SE Asia. Tigers are speed-bred in squalid farms, butchered for bones, claws & teeth made into jewelry and skins & meat to feed luxury markets. Extinction for sale. #TigerMafia #CancelCaptivity More: tinyurl.com/5adccdnf

📢 Exciting news 📢 Dr Neil D’Cruze joins the Blood Lions Board of Directors. With 20+ years experience in conservation & animal welfare, his expertise in wildlife trade and human-wildlife conflict will strengthen our advocacy, research & policy efforts for captive predators. Welcome, Neil!

This South African #HeritageDay, we celebrate not only our rich and diverse cultures but also our natural heritage. Lions symbolise strength, courage and ancestral power, woven into our stories and identity.Let’s honour them wild and free. #CancelCaptivity#HeritageDay2025 Photo credit: Katie Nicolle

South Africa’s captive predator industry exploits lions & other big cats for profit 🐾. Cubs torn from mothers, malnourished, neglected & denied natural instincts—all for human entertainment. Don’t be part of the problem. #CancelCaptivity #KeepItWild More: tinyurl.com/5adccdnf

Unethical wildlife tourism isn’t just about captive wild animals. The recent scenes from the Kogatende Crossing in Tanzania exposed shocking misconduct in the wild. Join @ATTA’s webinar with Dr Louise de Waal to unpack this vital debate. More: tinyurl.com/3n2a65ab Photo credit: ©️ Nick Kleer

📸 Join the #KeepItWild Challenge! 📸 @YouthForLions invites photographers to share wild big cat photos plus its background story. We challenge @pippa.cobbhankinson, @nicola.gerrard.75, @neil.dcruze.1, @daryl.balfour, @benine.dutoit.16 & @rogerdelaharpe! Submit 👉 tinyurl.com/59ka8b43

South Africa’s captive predator industry exploits big cats in tourism experiences, to be bottle-fed, as selfie props, circus acts, and caged for their “educational value”. This is not conservation. It’s time to say NO. #CancelCaptivity #KeepItWild More: tinyurl.com/5adccdnf

📢 Breaking news: New study finds no evidence that captive lion breeding benefits wild populations. With rising calls to end lion farming, experts urge South Africa to redirect resources toward strategies that truly protect wild lions. More: tinyurl.com/378743cz

South Africa has minimum requirements for enclosure space for lions, but most other big cats are not afforded such standards. Their cages can be as small as 10x14 m for three young leopards. This impacts their welfare further due to the inability to exercise. #TheyFeelToo Time to #CancelCaptivity

In South Africa’s captive predator industry, 1000s of predators in addition to lions are exploited. Tigers, cheetahs, leopards, caracals, and even servals and black-footed cats are #HeldCaptive and bred for commercial uses and profit. More: tinyurl.com/5adccdnf

Are you a wildlife photographer looking to take your hobby to the next level? Do you want to tell impactful stories and create change? YouthForLions launched a Photography Hints & Tricks page to help you take your wildlife images 🐾 to the next level. #KeepItWild More: tinyurl.com/mr45wewh

South Africa exploits 1000s of predators for profit, not only lions. Leopards, cheetahs, caracals, servals, and tigers are the most prevalent in our commercial captive predator industry. Over the next few weeks, we delve into their animal welfare issues. Read more: tinyurl.com/7426xs8a

“What are the welfare implications of harassing or provoking captive lions for our entertainment”, we ask Dr Audrey Delsink from @humaneworld.bsky.social She discusses the complications of social dynamics of captive lions and the potential for aggression when provoking them. #TheyFeelToo

South Africa’s captive predator industry holds around 8,000 lions in unsuitable conditions across about 350 facilities. This industry drives a vicious cycle of exploitation - from cub petting, to “canned” hunting and trade in live lions & their bones & body parts. More: tinyurl.com/5adccdnf

Are you a budding photographer, journalist or art student, and you are interested in using art for change? Art can be a powerful way to raise awareness & inspire action. Art can empower people. Keep an eye on our @Youth For Lions socials over the coming weeks. Here’s a hint - ART FOR ADVOCACY.

We speak to Dr Audrey Delsink from Humane World for Animals and ask her “What does animal sentience mean to you?” We discussed the welfare implications of prematurely separating lion cubs from their mothers and in particular milk replacers, the lack of the mother’s bond and learning opportunities.

After two successful HELD CAPTIVE locations in Johannesburg, we have taken our photographic exhibition online. The exhibition tells a visual story of South Africa’s commercial captive predator industry and its links to the tiger trade in Southeast Asia ⛓️🦁🐯⛓️ More: tinyurl.com/mr363945

NEWS Group of researchers put debate if captive lion breeding can reduce pressure on wild lion populations to rest. They say the review finds no clear evidence that South Africa’s captive lion industry benefits wild lions. It could be doing harm by fuelling demand. More: tinyurl.com/munh8fyp

The first leg of HELD CAPTIVE is coming to a close & we are looking back on some of its highlights. Next is the closing dinner of the @TC/ESG25 Conference at @Global Change Institute at @WITS University. The theme is “Navigating sustainability transformations towards justice & equity” -a perfect fit

NEWS - South Africa’s commercial captive lion industry (CLB) does not benefit Africa’s wild lions, research by Blood Lions & World Animal Protection finds. Currently, no scientific evidence to substantiate industry claims that CLB industry helps lion conservation. More: bloodlions.org/2/

South Africa’s commercial captive lion industry is widely accused of sub-standard keeping conditions and lacking welfare standards. Apex predators have complex needs that are hard to replicate in captivity, leading to serious welfare implications from birth to death. tinyurl.com/4htw4d6v

On 🦁 World Lion Day 🦁, we celebrate our iconic lions globally. We at Blood Lions use this special day to raise further awareness on the plight of these majestic animals in captivity. Watch full video here - youtu.be/FXKSjmA8D_s

On 🦁 World Lion Day 🦁, we celebrate our iconic lions globally. We at Blood Lions use this special day to raise further awareness on the plight of these majestic animals in captivity. youtu.be/FXKSjmA8D_s

We are urging Minister Dr Dion George (Dept of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment) for decisive action in the form of a moratorium on breeding & a structured phase-out of the broader commercial captive predator industry. You’re invited to join us on a guided walkabout: bit.ly/3UMsteq

Thank you for helping to bring HELD CAPTIVE to life:Painted Wolf Wines, Inside Out, Event Décor Hire, MetroGreensZA, Disc to Print, Masterfull Maintenance & World Animal Protection.Tell your friends & family; book your tickets here & visit for a guided walkabout before 20 August 2025! bit.ly/3UMsteq

We invite you to the HELD CAPTIVE photographic exhibition at Inside out Gallery for the Arts, highlighting the true exploitation of apex predators in captivity for entertainment and financial gain.Watch: www.instagram.com/reel/DM9XZeW...

Blood Lions said “we applaud the minister for his commitment to seeing ex-minister Creecy’s vision, to stop the domestication of our iconic lion, through to its conclusion. However, we would like to see more urgency in setting a moratorium on breeding lions.” Read more: tinyurl.com/2ddvefx7

A TikTok video shows a tourist petting a captive cheetah that reacted to her getting too close. Interactions are stressful & exploitative, only providing another revenue stream that puts visitors in danger. See the video: bit.ly/3GTWcyV Read about captive predator attacks: bit.ly/4mfoL8L

HELD CAPTIVE| A photographic exhibition that comes at a pivotal time, highlighting the urgent concerns regarding the future of South Africa’s captive lion industry.Dates: 2–22 August 2025 at Inside Out Centre for the Arts, Forest Town, Johannesburg Price: ZAR 100 bit.ly/3H3UvyO

Held Captive is a photographic exhibition that “challenges viewers to reconsider our relationship with wild animals & the cost of keeping them caged”. By visiting captive facilities across South Africa, the team of photographers uncovers the often innocuous cruelty of captivity. bit.ly/4kOgXtD

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries & the Environment is working on a Prohibition Notice to ban the establishment of new captive lion breeding facilities in South Africa. Once in place, it will help curb the industry by preventing the establishment of new captive facilities. tinyurl.com/ymffut6z